Samenvatting

Physical therapists and patients’ perspectives on blended care for COPD self-management in primary care: a qualitative study Background: Patients with COPD often struggle to maintain benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation due to limited long-term self-management. Blended care, combining face-to-face therapy with digital components, may support them. Little is known about how physical therapists and patients with COPD perceive such interventions. Objective: To explore experiences, perspectives and needs of therapists and patients regarding blended care to support self-management of physical activity, dyspnea and psychological distress. Methods: Interviews were conducted with therapists and patients recruited from 12 Dutch primary care practices. Data collection and analysis were conducted until data saturation was achieved, and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results: Eleven therapists (years’ experience with COPD care: 1,5-25) and twelve patients (median 69 years, range 55-88, 9 female, GOLD II–IV) were interviewed. Both groups reported benefits of online symptom burden monitoring and identified barriers for patients with low digital health literacy. Therapists emphasized that digital components should be tailored to individual patients’ needs, including education modules and behavioral change strategies, and highlighted the need of skills to assess patient suitability for blended care. Patients expressed needs for digital support in breath control during exertion and mucus clearance. Both groups stressed the importance of face-to-face contact alongside digital care to support self-management. Conclusion: This phase 1 qualitative study provides insights into therapists’ and patients’ perspectives on blended care to support self-management in COPD. These findings provide important information that will be of use in the co-creation and development of a blended care intervention.